i would seek out the social worker at your cancer center for assistance. The social worker can help you apply for assistance if it's available, sort through the system and make referrals to help with caring for other aspects of the journey beyond the oncologist.

If the cancer started in one place and spread to another, it is most likely Stage 4. If the cancer is primary in both the kidney and liver they can only stage it by biopsy and mass. As for the mood swings, it is not uncommon for cancer patients to be overly emotional and have sudden mood swings... especially if there are unanswered questions, but it could also be an indication of the cancer spreading to the brain...BUT I'm NOT a doctor and I'm NOT saying that the cancer has spread. I'm only stating what I've learned from my own experiences.

If there is an oncologist currently treating him, write all of your questions down, get a tape recorder and take them with you to the next appointment. Record the conversation so you don't miss details and can replay it later so you're sure you caught everything the doctor says. Ask your questions. If necessary, stand in front of the door and don't let the doctor leave the room until your questions are answered. You may not like the answers, but at least you will know.

As far as financial assistance, does your loved one qualify for Medicare? If not, what about Social Security? Also, there are other means of financial assistance. Post a question to DaveWaz. He's the founder of this site and has tons of information regarding who you can contact about financial assistance. You can also go to cancer.org and check out what's available through the American Cancer Society. There is a toll free number there you can call and ask to speak to a Patient Navigator. They can help, too.

Very generally, BP of 120/80 or lower is considered normal. BP less than 90/60 is classified as hypotension. Chronic low blood pressure is generally not considered to be a problem in and of itself. However it can be a symptom of an underlying problem such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, arrhythmia, or liver disease. A sudden major drop in BP is usually associated with anaphylaxis, heart failure, sepsis, or severe blood loss.

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